how would the keystone pipeline benefit the us

Full Answer

What would be the dangers of the Keystone Pipeline?

The Keystone XL pipeline would carry 900,000 barrels of dirty tar sands oil into the United States daily. The water used to extract the oil from the tar sands becomes a danger to people, animals, and the surrounding land. The process produces toxic by-products including bitumen, from sand, silt, and clay.

What will be the effects of the Keystone Pipeline?

Ultimately, construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline could have detrimental effects on the environment, such as the destruction of ecosystems, the loss of habitats, and the pollution of nearby rivers. But proponents of the pipeline state that the economic benefits the construction process can have on the economy is much needed.

What are facts about Keystone Pipeline?

Quick Facts

• Keystone XL 329 miles (529 km) in Canada (Hardisty, Alta., to Monchy, Sask.)
• 840 miles (1,351 km) in the United States (Phillips County, Mont. to Steele City, Neb.)
• 36-inch diameter pipeline Capacity of 830,000 barrels per day

What is going on with the Keystone Pipeline?

Studies have linked leaks from oil sands pipelines like Keystone XL to significant degradation of nearby land and water resources. A major concern is tailings ponds, the product of toxic waste from mining in the tar sands that can sicken communities and wildlife that depend on the land to survive.

What is the benefit of the Keystone pipeline?

The Keystone XL Pipeline will contribute to energy security, create tens of thousands of high-quality employment and local contracting opportunities as well as provide a substantial economic benefit to local communities across Canada and the United States.

How does the Keystone pipeline affect the United States?

In fact, Keystone XL would actually increase the price of oil in the Midwest adding almost $2 to $4 billion annually to the U.S. fuel bill. It will do this by diverting major volumes of tar sands oil that currently goes to the U.S. Midwest to the Gulf Coast.

Does the U.S. need the Keystone pipeline?

Ramped up domestic oil production and alternative supply routes have lessened the U.S.'s need for the hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil that would have been pumped daily through the now-cancelled Keystone XL pipeline, some industry experts say.

Why was the Keystone pipeline a bad idea?

The pipeline could endanger many animals and their habitats in the U.S. and Canada. The pipeline passes over areas which provide habitats for 10% of the waterfowl population in the Continental United States.

What are the negatives of the Keystone pipeline?

What Are the Cons of the Keystone Pipeline? 1. It would transport one of the most damaging forms of fossil fuels available to us. Tar sands oil is called “bitumen.” The petroleum is combined with clay, sand, and water to create a very thick mixture which must have the oil extracted from it.

Where would the oil from the Keystone pipeline go?

It would enter the United States at Morgan, Montana, and travel through Baker, Montana, where American-produced oil would be added to the pipeline; then it would travel through South Dakota and Nebraska, where it would join the existing Keystone pipelines at Steele City, Nebraska.

Who shut down the Keystone pipeline?

TransCanada shut down a portion of the Keystone XL Pipeline after they "reported a spill of about 187 gallons of crude oil" near the Freeman pump station in Hutchinson County, South Dakota.

Where does the US get most of its oil?

In 2021, Canada was the source of 51% of U.S. gross total petroleum imports and 62% of gross crude oil imports.The top five sources of U.S. total petroleum (including crude oil) imports by percentage share of total petroleum imports in 2021 were:Canada51%Mexico8%Russia8%Saudi Arabia5%Colombia2%

How has Keystone pipeline affected Oklahoma?

Again, the impact will be felt not just in Oklahoma: The pipeline here increases the transport of oil to Cushing, one of the largest transshipment and oil-storage locations in the world.

What was the impact report on Keystone XL?

In fact, the impact report stated that the State Department expected extraction of oil in Canada and changes to the environment “regardless of any potential effects” from the Keystone XL project.

What does Biden mean by revoking Keystone?

Indeed, by revoking Keystone’s permit, President Biden is relegating these workers to the unemployment line, when our country can ill afford to strain our already overstressed unemployment system.

How many jobs will the pipeline create?

In response to the president’s decision, lawmakers have introduced legislation to mandate continuation of the project, estimating that the pipeline’s expansion would create 11,000 “direct high-paying jobs” and “up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs.”

Is Keystone XL a no brainer?

To anyone truly interested in optimizing health and human safety for the American people and our friends in Canada — as well as protecting the environment and promoting well-paying jobs — supporting Keystone XL is a no-brainer.

Is the Keystone pipeline good?

Killing the Keystone XL pipeline does no tangible good and will doubtless cause harm to countless Americans, and even to the environment that the decision pledges to protect.

Why is the Keystone pipeline important?

The Keystone Pipeline Would Create Lower Prices. One of the best reasons to seek North American energy independence through the Keystone Pipeline is that it would result in much lower oil prices and provide a significant economic advantage to the United States. An example of this can be seen in Venezuela. Last year the United States imported ...

What is the goal of the Keystone pipeline?

One of the most exciting and important goals in the future of the United States is to achieve North American energy independence . Imported oil from Canada and Mexico would combine with our domestic resources to completely free the US of fuel dependency from foreign sources. This goal is achievable thanks in part to energy conservation and new developments in the oil and gas industry. The projected heavy crude drawn from Canada via the Keystone Pipeline would assist greatly to make it possible to tap more resources at home. With regards to energy independence, we’ll examine some of the major benefits that would derive from this important pipeline.

How would North American energy independence help the US economy?

North American energy independence would also save the US money in terms of actually creating lower prices. The Keystone XL pipeline would significantly increase the supply of heavy crude oil, thereby lowering the price. North American energy independence would provide a much-needed boost to the economy.

Where does the Keystone pipeline originate?

By contrast, the existing operational phases (1 & 2) of the Keystone Pipeline and the proposed Keystone expansion referred to as Keystone XL (phases 3 & 4) originate from Canada. Canada is a very stable country that is unlikely to see an abrupt reduction of output due to extreme swings in their government or their economic state. Canada is also already one of our main trade partners and a country with whom we are on very good terms. This makes doing business with Canada much easier and more consistent.

Is the Keystone pipeline safer than the rail?

Studies show that based on a ton-mile of freight, a pipeline is about 530% safer than rail transportation, and 50,000% safer than truck transportation. The Keystone XL pipeline is also proposed to incorporate 57 special conditions which are designed to ensure that it is even safer than any other domestic pipeline. Therefore, by moving toward North American energy independence, we also moving toward a safer, less accident prone future.

How much tax revenue will be generated from Keystone XL?

Construction of Keystone XL would cause a short-term tax revenue increase (primarily from sales and use taxes) of $66 million. Once the pipeline is operating, 27 counties will collect an additional $56 million in taxes. The pipeline won’t affect property values, according to the government.

Who awarded the Keystone XL project?

Trump, who announced a new America First policy, has awarded the first major US infrastructure project (Keystone XL) to a Canadian company.

How many jobs would Keystone XL support?

Once the pipeline is operating, maintaining it would support 160 jobs in the region, according to an economic report prepared for the Dakota pipeline owners, Energy Transfer Partners. As for Keystone XL, it would need a mere 50 people to maintain it -- 35 employees and 15 contractors -- according to TransCanada.

What pipelines did Trump build?

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that construction would move forward on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines , both of which had stalled under the Obama administration. The decision was a blow to environmental activists and supporters of tribal sovereignty, but was touted by the White House as a great boost to the American economy.

How much will the Dakota Access pipeline generate?

The projects would also increase local tax revenue. Once the Dakota Access pipeline is operational, it will generate about $55 million in property taxes, split across four states, according to estimates.

What happens during the Dakota Access pipeline?

During construction, towns along the pipeline’s path are likely to see local booms in business, as workers spend money on lodging, food and entertainment. This has already happened along the Dakota Access corridor. However, like the construction jobs that fuel it, the boom is temporary.

How much did the BP oil spill cost?

The five-year cleanup of BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, starting in 2010, cost the company $62 billion. That doesn’t include the cost of decreased tourism, diminished wildlife and land that becomes unusable. It also doesn’t account for potential long-term health effects.

How much money will the Keystone pipeline contribute to the US economy?

It is believed that the Keystone XL pipeline has the potential to contribute more than $3 billion annually to the US economy once it become operational. It would also create an estimated $2.4 billion (in US dollars) for Canada, which would be split between the government, shareholders, and company reinvestments.

How many jobs will the Keystone pipeline create?

The US State Department has estimated that the construction of the pipeline project could create up to 42,000 jobs over a two-year construction period.

How to remove bitumen from the ground?

According to the New York Times, one method includes using water and natural gas to pump steam into the tar sands , which creates the potential for a toxic runoff. Strip mining is the other option. 2.

How many barrels of oil are in the Keystone pipeline?

The Keystone XL pipeline is a delivery system that is designed to carry over 800,000 barrels of oil sands petroleum per day from Western Canada to oil refineries along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Around half of the pipeline has already been completed, but its construction has always been opposed by various environmentalist groups.

What would happen if Keystone XL went active?

In practical terms: if Keystone XL goes active, it would be the equivalent of adding 5.6 million cars to US roadways every day. 6. Tar sands oil has the potential to be highly corrosive. The oil that will be piped through the Keystone XL extension is some of the most corrosive petroleum that is used today.

Why can Canadian producers raise prices with Keystone?

With Keystone, Canadian producers can raise prices because the quality of the petroleum will be better while they are able to cut into their overhead costs at the same time. 6. The amount of emissions added to the atmosphere from Keystone XL are negligible.

Is the Dakota Access Pipeline related to the Keystone pipeline?

The issues from DAPL are often associated with Keystone XL. The protests from the Dakota Access Pipeline are often associated with the Keystone pipeline. Although the two projects are somewhat similar in what they hope to accomplish, the environmental concerns are slightly different for Keystone.

How many times has the Keystone pipeline leaked?

Since it first went into operation in 2010, TC Energy’s original Keystone Pipeline System has leaked more than a dozen times; one incident in North Dakota sent a 60-foot, 21,000-gallon geyser of tar sands oil spewing into the air.

What would happen if Keystone XL was fully realized?

A fully realized Keystone XL would lead to more mining of that “nasty stuff” by accelerating the pace at which it’s produced and transported. (Indeed, Keystone XL was viewed as a necessary ingredient in the oil industry’s plans to triple tar sands production by 2030.)

What Is Keystone XL?

The Keystone XL pipeline extension, proposed by TC Energy (then TransCanada) in 2008, was initially designed to transport the planet’s dirtiest fossil fuel, tar sands oil, to market —and fast. As an expansion of the company’s existing Keystone Pipeline System, which has been operating since 2010 (and continues to send Canadian tar sands crude oil from Alberta to various processing hubs in the middle of the United States), the pipeline promised to dramatically increase capacity to process the 168 billion barrels of crude oil locked up under Canada’s boreal forest. It was expected to transport 830,000 barrels of Alberta tar sands oil per day to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas.

How much oil would be transported by Keystone XL?

To be precise, it would transport 830,000 barrels of Alber ta tar sands oil per day to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Some 3 million miles of oil and gas pipelines already run through our country. But Keystone XL wouldn’t be your average pipeline, and tar sand oil isn’t your average crude.

How does tar sands affect the environment?

All facets of the tar sands industry pose a threat to the environment. Its mines are a blight on Canada’s boreal, where mining operations dig up and flatten forests to access the oil below, destroying wildlife habitat and one of the world’s largest carbon sinks. The mining depletes and pollutes freshwater resources, creates massive ponds of toxic waste, and threatens the health and livelihood of the First Nations people who live near them. Refining the sticky black gunk produces piles of petroleum coke, a hazardous, coal-like by-product. What’s more, the whole process of getting the oil out and making it usable creates three to four times the carbon pollution of conventional crude extraction and processing. “This isn’t your grandfather’s typical oil,” says Anthony Swift, director of NRDC’s Canada project. “It’s nasty stuff.”

How many jobs will KXL create?

When TC Energy said the pipeline would create nearly 119,000 jobs, a State Department report instead concluded the project would require fewer than 2,000 two-year construction jobs and that the number of full-time, permanent jobs would hover around 35 after construction.

Why is Keystone XL being opposed?

Opposition to Keystone XL centers on the devastating environmental consequences of the project. The pipeline has faced years of sustained protests from environmental activists and organizations; Indigenous communities; religious leaders; and the farmers, ranchers, and business owners along its proposed route. One such protest, a historic act of civil disobedience outside the White House in August 2011, resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 demonstrators. More than 90 leading scientists and economists have opposed the project, in addition to unions and world leaders such as the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and former president Jimmy Carter (together, these and other Nobel laureates have written letters against the project). In 2014, more than two million comments urging a rejection of the pipeline were submitted to the State Department during a 30-day public comment period.

Why is Keystone XL bad?

The pipeline passes through an active earthquake zone. One bad spill could permanently poison the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides drinking water to millions of people, and 30 percent of our irrigation.

What are the Chinese doing to the world supply chain?

Chinese leaders have seized key elements of the world industrial supply chain, like rare earths. According to our government, they engage in pervasive industrial espionage. They have threatened American companies like Apple, Google and Walmart. In short, they know how to play the game.

Is Keystone pipeline good?

Here is another reason, perhaps the best reason of all: It doesn't do us any good. China, yes. The Koch Brothers (who own the refining capacity that would be used), yes. Us, no.

Does the pipeline pass through earthquake zones?

The pipeline passes through an active earthquake zone. One bad spill could permanently poison the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides drinking water to millions of people, and 30 percent of our irrigation. Here is another reason, perhaps the best reason of all: It doesn’t do us any good. China, yes.

Root of The Problem

More Production, But Higher Costs For Americans

• Even if the pipeline was already built, it wouldn't help with the price at the pump, Nemet added, noting that the U.S. has already doubled its oil production over the last 15 years. "And yet, we still have $100 per barrel oil." With inflation soaring, gas prices have been increasing for months — hitting an average of $4.33 a gallonon March 11, acco...

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